Disposable douche



" arent 3,057,352 Patented Oct. 9, 1962 flc 3,057,352 DISPOSABLE DOUCHE Richard C. McKenna, 3637 Century Blvd., Lynwood, Calif. Filed Sept. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 54,116 3 Claims. (Cl. 12S-248) v`which remains sealed until the device is ready for use and is adapted to be opened by an applicator tip provided as an element of the kit or package of which the douch or enema is comprised.

A further object of the invention is to provide a liquidor medicinal-dispensing device for hygienic or curative purposes that merely requires the addition of water to the container thereof so that the initially compact package or kit is converted into a douche or enema, as the case may be.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description, and which is based on the accompanying drawing. However, said drawing merely shows, and the following description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given -by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged and broken longitudinal sectional view showing the present douche preparatory to puncture of the outlet thereof to ready the same for use.

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the douche in liquiddispensing or flow position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, to a smaller scale, showing one manner of packaging the present device for Vending, as in a vending machine.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a douche according to the present invention and in operative condition.

The present douche comprises, generally, a container 5 that is capable of folding to a compact form, an outlet nozzle 6 sealed into the container, means 7 to permanently connect the nozzle and the container so the desired position of the former is retained, and a tip 8 that has the dual purpose of opening the container to outlet ow and connecting to the nozzle so that said flow is received and discharged by the tip.

The container 5 is advantageously made of a thin or diaphanous and pliable material, such as cellophane, Plioiilm, or any of several impervious plastic or rubber sheet materials that are strong, do not weaken when creased, and are ordinarily difficult to rupture or tear except by penetration by a sharp point. Except that such a container is formed to have a constricted or reduced end 9 which, as suggested at 10, may be closed or sealed, it has the above-mentioned properties.

The container 5 may be initially provided with a medicament or antiseptic in powder, pill or table form, and either temporarily closed at its end opposite to the reduced end 9, or left open. In any case, before the device is to be used, the container may be provided with a suitable quantity of water to place the ingredients of said medicament or antiseptic in solution. This solution is shown at 11 and is retained by the sealed end 10. The opposite end of the container, after filling with water, may be closed in various ways, as suggested at 12, either by sealing, pasting or tying, so that the solution 11 will discharge only through the nozzle 6 after rupture of the seal 1l). Regardless how filled or closed at the mentioned open end, the container is foldable to the form shown in the enclosing package 13 in FIG. 3, and distends, wholly or in part, as in FIG. 4, after lling.

The outlet nozzle 6, of hard rubber or substantially rigid plastic material, has a longitudinal passage 14 that, near its outer end, is provided with internal screw threads 15. Thus, the solution 11 enters said passage and is retained by the seal or closure 10.

To facilitate application of the means 7, said nozzle may be provided with one or more outer grooves 16 into which the container end 9 is crowded by the means 7, which is here shown as tie members, but which may comprise metal or elastic bands. In fact, said means 7 may comprise adhesive or any suitable means that will rmly locate the nozzle 6 within the container end 9.

The tip 8 may be generally conventional in that the same is an elongated member having a longitudinal discharge passage 17 that terminates at the bulbous end 18 of the tip in outlet apertures 19, and has external threads 20 adapted to enter and engage the mentioned threads 15 in the nozzle. Said tip, according to the present invention, is provided with a piercing point 21 on its threaded end.

In use, after the container 5 has been filled with liquid, the same is held with its nozzle 6 up and the liquid occupying the opposite end of the container. The tip 8 is then applied with the point 21, after piercing or disrupting the seal at 10, entering the nozzle passage 14, and the threads 15 and 20 interengaging. As can be seen in FIG. 2, any projecting or extending portions 22 of the sealed end 10 will be drawn into the connection and create a leak-proof seal between the engaged threads, insuring a tight connection between the nozzle 6 and the tip 8. Now, the device may be used as a douche or enema and, after use, discarded as herein contemplated. It will be clear that in such use, discharge of the solution may be effected by squeezing the sides of the container.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modication without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A disposable douche comprising la liquid-impervious, penetrable, flexible container having a constricted and normally closed end, a rigid nozzle having a passage therethrough and said nozzle being within said constricted end and said container end having a portion extending forwardly from the end of the nozzle, a liquid-discharging tip having an end that fits with said hollow nozzle, said end of the tip having means to penetrate the closed and extending end of the container, at the time of fitting the tip and nozzle together, to connect the tip and nozzle for flow from the container through the nozzle and tip, the extending portion of the pierced end of the container being infolded by the tip end between said nozzle and tip to form a seal therebetween.

2. A disposable douche comprising a liquid-impervious, penetrable, flexible container having a normally closed portion, a relatively rigid nozzle having a passage therethrough and said nozzle being Within said closed por- 3 tion of the container, a liquid-discharging tip having an end that connects with said hollow nozzle, said end of the tip having means to penetrate that portion of the container opposite the nozzle and to connect the tip and nozzle for flow from the container, through the nozzle and tip, a portion of the container where the tip penetrates same being disposed between said nozzle and said tip to prevent leakage between the nozzle and the tip, the connection between the nozzle and the tip comprising screw threads, and the closed discharge end of the container extending beyond the end of the nozzle, `and said closed end, when opened by the tip, being folded inward between said screw threads upon connection of the nozzle and tip.

3. In combination, a liquid-impervious, penetrable container having a normally closed portion, a relatively rigid nozzle having a passage therethrough and said nozzle being within said closed portion of the container and the latter portion having a forward extension, a liquid-discharging tip having an end to penetrate said extension of the container opposite the passage through the nozzle, said tip inward of the end thereof being connected to the nozzle to convey flow of liquid from within the container through the tip, the extension, when penetrated by the tip, being infolded thereby between the nozzle and tip, the container, thereby, being in substantially leak-proof engagement with the nozzle.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,526,595 Gillman Feb. 17, 1925 2,664,891 Kempel Ian. 5, 1954 2,923,296 Adams et al. Feb. 2, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 624,006 France Aug. 28, 1927 256,702 Switzerland Aug. 3l, 1948 

